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Seeking Help for a Struggling Reader: 8 Steps for Parents

By: Reading Rockets

What should you do if you think your child is having trouble with reading? Sometimes children just need more time, but sometimes they need extra help. Trust your instincts! You know your child best. If you think there's a problem, there probably is.

Below are the steps to take to ensure your child receives the help he or she needs to succeed.

Remember, don't give up or necessarily believe that your child "will grow out of it." The fact is, whenever a child has difficulty with reading or school, it can be an overwhelming and emotional time for parents. The more you learn, though, the less overwhelming it will seem and the more you'll be able to act effectively. You are the best advocate for your child  keep asking, learning, and acting to ensure that he or she has the best opportunity to succeed at reading.

1. Find out if your child needs extra help

If your child is a preschooler, call Child Find

Call the main office of your local school district and ask for the "Child Find" program. This federal program requires school districts to give preschoolers a comprehensive assessment for free if a problem is suspected.

If your child is in school, talk to his or her teacher

Ask questions such as  Do you think my child is having trouble with reading? What specific trouble is my child having? What can I do to help my child at home? What can be done to help my child in class? Which reading group is my child in? How is he or she doing compared to other students?

Talk to your child's doctor

2. Consult with the school and other parents

Make an appointment to speak with your child's teacher

The best thing that can happen is for parents, teachers, and other professionals to begin talking together to plan ways to help a child overcome or cope with his or her reading difficulties. You can be supportive at home while the teacher can accommodate your child's needs and work to increase his or her skills in the classroom. Together you can make sure the help a child receives out-of-school meshes with what's happening in school.

Talk with other parents

Let others know about your concern. Your neighbor or friend might already have solved a problem similar to yours. In addition, at most schools, a group of parents meets regularly to talk about improving and supporting the school. This group is usually called the PTA or PTO, and they are sometimes quite effective. You can also ask questions and hear from other parents from around the country on LD OnLine's forums.

3. Inform yourself of your options

Find out about IDEA

There is a law  the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)  that ensures that children diagnosed with a learning disability will receive special school services (for free). See LD OnLine's In Depth: Legal Issues page for information about your rights under this law.

Check other sources

Put things in writing

As you go through the process of getting help for your child, be sure to keep a written record. Take notes and write down the date and name of each person you meet with, what you talked about, and what you decided. Follow the chain of command. If you let your child's teacher know about a problem and nothing changes, try calling or writing again. Don't give up because then nothing will change. Then contact the child's guidance counselor, assistant principal, or principal. If you still need assistance, contact the office of the district administrator or superintendent.

4. Ask the school to evaluate your child

Send the school principal a written evaluation request

Write a short letter to your child's principal to request that the school's specialists review your child's progress. This request will go to a "screening committee" at the school. This group decides whether a child should be checked for speech or language delays, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), dyslexia, or other conditions that may be affecting how your child learns. If it is determined that your child needs extra help, the school may be able to provide this either in the child's regular classroom or with a specialist.

Make sure your child is evaluated in his or her strongest language

It is important that your child is tested in the language he or she knows best. The purpose of such testing is to find out whether a child's reading problem is due to second language learning, language delay, or a learning disability.

5. Consider an evaluation from outside the school

Contact an independent expert

If the school will not evaluate your child, or they evaluate your child and you think you need a second opinion, consider going to a specialist outside of the school. They can do an "independent education evaluation." There will likely be a fee, however.

Contact your local parent center

Your local Parent Training and Information Center or a Parent Resource Center can advise you on how to get a free "independent education evaluation." Click here to find the centers in your state.

6. Consider finding an advocate

Hire an advocate for your child

Sometimes you have to go "outside the system" to get what you need done for your child. You can work with a professional  usually called an advocate, educational consultant, or lawyer  who specializes in helping parents resolve problems with a school. These professionals are often expensive, however.

Your local Parent Training and Information Center or a Parent Resource Center may have information on advocates in your area. Click here to find the centers in your state.

7. Consider hiring a tutor

See if you qualify for SES services

Under the No Child Left Behind act, parents can obtain "supplemental educational services" (i.e., tutoring) at no charge if students are from low-income families who remain in Title I schools that fail to meet state standards for at least three years. Parents of eligible children can choose from a list of state-approved providers.

Hire an experienced tutor

There are many tutoring options including private tutors, tutoring centers, educational therapists, and formalized programs. Ask for recommendations and do your homework to find a tutor who has specific knowledge and experience in working with children who have reading or learning disabilities. See our article on how to choose a tutor for more information.

8. Support your child at home

Provide academic support

Learning is hard work, especially when a child struggles with reading. Although you don't want to put extra academic pressure on your child, there are some effective things you can do to help him or her overcome or cope with reading difficulties. See "Target the Problem" for suggestions.

Provide emotional support

Probably the most important thing you can do as a parent is to let your child know how much you value him or her as a unique and special person! Self-esteem often takes a hit when children struggle with reading or school. See our information on "Put Downs & Comebacks" on how you can respond positively to a discouraged kid.

Written by Pam McKeta, online services director for Reading Rockets.

Reprints

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Comments

I came to this page looking for resources of books or other sites that I might use for my son who is finishing up 1st grade right now. He struggles a little bit, but gets it, just a little slow. Not at all what I was looking for.

Coming to this site was providential. My grandson is a bright energetic child who is now displaying reading disfunction. I have found many many resources here that will help. Also with the help of his wonderfully supportive teacher, we are on the way to helping him reach another goal.

I agree entirely with Ryan. I was expecting 8 steps to help me, help my son read better. Not 8 steps to "my legal rights as a parent and what the govt. has to provide me". This needs to be re-categorized.

This site was very helpful for. However I do think it was categorized other then it should have been. I am having an issue getting the school to help me and my child. There has to be somewhere above them that I can turn to for help on this situation. Very Helpful

Not to over simplify, but here are two things you can do every night: Read to your child every night. Picture books, chapter books, novels. Let your child see you read - you are your child's biggest influence. Go to the library / bookstore and get them books that they can read fairly easily (only trouble with one or two words per page. A child who struggles to read needs to be practicing at least 20 minutes each night with a book at his or her independent level. Listen to books in the car - there is a lot of great literature now available on CD or on Audibles. Talk to your

I enjoyed reading through this page and saw some information which I believe will help me in assisting parents with a parenting programe which will sort to ensure the best for their child's development.

Hi all. I am the mom of a struggling reader. He was diagnosed in the second grade. We've come a long way and he is now in 8th grade. Last year he made the B honor role every quarter. Here are the things we did at home to help encourage him to read. NOTE - I am a mom, not a teacher or reading specialist, but these techniques seemed to help. http://www.jennascribbles.com/struggling-readers/encouraging-young-strug...

Hi, my wife is a specialist who deals with kids experiencing reading issues. She has alot of success in this area. She is very passionate in wanting to help because without reading, learning is practically impossible. This can lead to dreamy or disruptive behaviour in the class and kids being labelled unruly. I know she checks eye tracking and with movement and various other bits and pieces, she is able to overcome this issue and allow your child to blossom.I don't know the details but you can contact her at:centre4excellence@btconnect.comYou have nothing to lose and everything to gain. She'll be happy to talk with no obligation, see if what she says makes sense. Her testimonials speak for themselves and people travel some distances to meet and work with her, thats gotta say something too.At least now you have somewhere to turn, it can't hurt to get in touch.I hope this reads as someone who cares.BestKevin

I found this article extremely helpful. Some may have complained about the 'misleading' title, but I think it was properly titled. The beginning of the title is "Seeking Help..." and that's what this article provides. It offers a wide range of resources for parents seeking help. I am a former preschool teacher, I read often, go to the library often, and my child reads often. But, she still struggles to gain grade level proficiency. The information here has been very helpful, especially since I feel I have done my child justice by trying all other avenues; in that, I have provided a supportive environment and supplied plenty of reading opportunities.
Thank you reading rockets.

A lot of the comments in this section are from parents expressing that they were hoping for 8 things they could do at home to encourage their struggling readers. So, I did a little research for you! Below is a link to a website that provides parents with 9 ways they can help their child with reading. I thought it might be interesting and helpful to some of you. Enjoy.

Reading the "tips for parents" section makes me realize that it is the parent's responsibility to take an active role in helping their children identify reading problems and finding resources. I have always been under the impression that it was the school's responsibility but now I know there are many things parents can do to facilitate the process in and outside of schools. This can be very stressful for parents because there can be shame involved when seeking help from people outside of the family as well as cultural barriers that slow the process. While seeking help for students, parents should also seek help for themselves by speaking to counselors about their personal concerns and stresses. Help groups are another way for parents to connect with each other, share concerns, and find support from people who are having similar experiences.

Reading the "tips for parents" section makes me realize that it is the parent's responsibility to take an active role in helping their children identify reading problems and finding resources. I have always been under the impression that it was the school's responsibility but now I know there are many things parents can do to facilitate the process in and outside of schools. This can be very stressful for parents because there can be shame involved when seeking help from people outside of the family as well as cultural barriers that slow the process. While seeking help for students, parents should also seek help for themselves by speaking to counselors about their personal concerns and stresses. Help groups are another way for parents to connect with each other, share concerns, and find support from people who are having similar experiences.